Discover the Top 11 Amazing Fun Facts About El Paso You Never Knew!
1. Cinderella's Cowboy Boots
If Cinderella were a cowgirl, she'd surely pick a pair from this workshop: El Paso's Rocketbuster Handmade Custom Boots create unique and vibrant cowboy boots, worn by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Julia Roberts, Taylor Swift, and Steven Spielberg, producing over 500 glamorous pairs annually for celebrities and visitors from around the globe.
Source => traveltexas.com
2. Zoo Eggstravaganza
In the land of El Paso, where the lion roars and the Easter Bunny hops, an egg-ceptional tradition takes over the zoo in a true animals-meet-Easter-eggs fiesta: The El Paso Zoo hosts an annual "Eggstravaganza" every April 8th and 9th, featuring animals indulging in Easter eggs, photo ops with the legendary bunny, interactive egg-tivities, and live performances, all included with Zoo admission.
Source => visitelpaso.com
Did you know that 1.5 million bats call Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge their home, creating the world's largest urban bat colony? Witness their nightly insect feast and join the delighted locals and tourists! 🦇
=> Fun Facts about Texas
3. Mother Nature's Amusement Park
If Mother Nature had an amusement park, it'd probably look a lot like El Paso's very own backyard: Franklin Mountains State Park is not only the largest public park in the city but also the largest urban wilderness park in the entire United States, spreading across a whopping 24,000 acres and 37 square miles! The park boasts over 100 miles of trails, making it an outdoorsy paradise filled with sweeping views, hiking galore, mountain biking escapades, and rock climbing challenges that are anything but "boulder"dash.
Source => atlasobscura.com
4. Shopping Cart Creator
Shopping cart capers and supermarket sentiments: Sylvan Nathan Goldman, the ingenious mastermind behind the now-ubiquitous shopping cart, took his first steps in Ardmore, Oklahoma, before venturing off to Tulsa and Oklahoma City to establish the Sun Grocery Company, the state's premier supermarket chain.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
5. Thirst-Quenching Desalination Plant
Feeling salty about El Paso's water supply and thirsting for knowledge? Well, here's a fresh fact for you: The Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant not only quenches El Paso's water needs by producing up to 27.5 million gallons of fresh water daily, but it also serves as a research hub for desalination and a model for other cities facing a dry spell!
Source => epwater.org
6. Sun City Music Festival
If your dancing shoes are gathering dust and you're itching to rave like a bass head in a candy store, we have the perfect remedy: El Paso hosts the electrifying Sun City Music Festival, featuring chart-topping artists such as Marshmello and Above & Beyond, a dedicated Beatport Stage for house and techno, and an online store for all your fabulous festival fashion needs.
Source => suncitymusicfestival.com
7. Parking Meter Pioneers
Before "Parking Wars" hit the scene and "A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore," El Paso was paving the way for parking meter wars in the good ol' days: In 1936, El Paso was one of the first cities to install roadside parking meters, invented by the Dual Parking Meter Co. and costing $58 each. During a 150-day trial, El Pasoans were introduced to the concept of paying five cents for an hour of parking, and despite some initial resistance, 75% of residents gave their approval in a survey conducted by the El Paso Times.
Source => elpasotimes.com
8. Game of Thrones-Style Train Depot
If El Paso Union Depot could be a character in Game of Thrones, it'd definitely be a Diocletian Stark, dazzling crowds with its sunlit court: Designed by the celebrated architect Daniel Burnham, this 1906 train station proudly boasts large Diocletian windows that bathe the main waiting room in glorious natural light, serving as a beacon of beauty for weary travelers.
Source => amtrak.com
9. No-Spit Zone
In El Paso, you might not catch a horse rocking some trendy taillights, but you'll definitely find residents keeping their saliva in check: it's actually illegal to spit in public places in El Paso, as stated in the city's Code of Ordinances under section 9.84.030, with violators facing potential fines or even jail time.
Source => myhighplains.com
10. Western Playland Thrills
Hold on tight to your 10-gallon hats, as El Paso unleashes a Texas-sized, stomach-churning, whirlwind of a good time: Western Playland amusement park, boasting a whopping 25 thrilling rides such as Fireball, El Loco 360, and Pharaoh's Fury, alongside tamer choices like Granny Bugs, and the classic Merry-Go-Round for kiddos meeting height restrictions between 30" and 60" tall.
Source => westernplayland.com
11. Rodeos, Air Shows, and Film Fests, Oh My!
Hold onto your cowboy hats and popcorn, El Paso is taking you on a wild western ride of film classics and sky-high stunts: The city is known for hosting the annual Amigo Airsho, a top ten air show extravaganza, as well as the Southwestern International PRCA Rodeo, the 17th oldest rodeo in the nation, and the Plaza Classic Film Festival, the world's largest celebration of vintage cinema magic.
Source => en.wikipedia.org